Improvement in knitting-machines



2 Sheets--She-et1. H. PEASE.

Improvement in Knitting-Machines. N0. 128, 42]. Patented June 25,1872.

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2 Sheets--Sheet 2 H. PEASE.

Improvement in Knitting-Machines. NO.l28,421. PatentedJune 25,1872.

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UNITED STATES PATENT omc HENRY PEASE, OF BROOKPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO HENRY W. SEYMOUR, OF SAME PLACE.

lWlPROVEMENT IN KNITTING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.128,42 1, dated J une 25, 1872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY PEASE, of Brockport, county of Monroe, State of N ewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line as m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the outer needle-cylinder, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the inner needle cylinder these last two views being taken on line at right angles to that of Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

The object of the first part of the invention is to combine in a single machine all of the advantages which characterize both the ordinary circular or cylinder machines, and also those machines which knit a flat web upon two parallel rows of needles arranged in straight lines; and to this end this part of the invention consists in mounting the needles in two concentric cylinders, having a space between them for the reception of the web as it is produced, these cylinders being connected together in such manner that one is made to support and carry the other. cylinder must be of less diameter than the outer one, but carries the same number of needles, it is evident that the length of the stitch between the needles will be less than the corresponding portion of the stitch upon the outer cylinder. The second part of the invention is intended to obviate the objections incident to their inequality in the surface length of the stitch, and consists in so constructing or arranging the cams which operate the inner row of needles that they shall be drawn down to a greater distance below the upper face of the cylinder, thus increasing the length of the loops, so as to make them correspond with those of the outer circle. Some singlecylinder machines have a cam so constructed that the needles will traverse the same path when the cylinder is moved in alternate directions, thus knitting a single fiat web. While this can be done with equal facility upon my machine it is often desirable to knit anarrow As the inne which case the needles of one cylinder should remain idle while those-of the other cylinder are knitting; and in my construction I have.

found it desirable that the needles which remain idle (while those in the other cylinder are knitting) should be thrust up through the web While waiting to receive the thread; therefore, for the purpose of controlling and of operating the needles alternately, as above described, I have madethethirdpart of thisinvention,which consists'in making the upper portion of the cam-tracks traversed by the needles movable, and causing them to act as switches to throw the needles into and out of action, as will be hereinafter explained. The fourth part of the invention relates to the construction of adjustable stops by which to limit the size of the web. The fifth part of the invention consists in operating the cam-switches byomeans of these adjustable stops. The sixth part of the invention consists in connecting the threadcarrier with the devices for operating the switches in such manner that a single thread is transferred automatically from one side of the web to the other-that is, from one row of needles to the otherat each end of the throw or travel of the cylinder or web, thus shifting the positions of the single thread, so as to supply it regularly to the knitting-needles.

The invention further consists in certain details of construction, as will be fully explained.

In the drawing, A is the bed or base plate, circular in form, and provided with projecting flanges or ears, A A which form a means of securing the machine to the table by a setscrew passing through the lower one, the bobbin-spindles usually being fixed in the upper one. A is the outer cam-cylinder cast, by preference, in one piece with base A. A is an arm projecting radially from cam-cylinder A and bed A and forming 'a support for the shaft of the crank and bevelpinion which drives the needle-cylinders. a a a (see Fig. 3) are needle-cams arranged upon the inner face of cylinder A the central section being attached to and moving with a sliding-plate, a fitting in a vertical slot cut for its reception inthe camcylinder. This plate a is moved up and down by a link, 01, Figs. 1 and 2, the relation and connection of these parts being clearly shown in Fig. 2. a a are stationaryneedle-elevators attached to the inner face of cylinder A at short distances from the lower end of cams a (0 These elevators are triangular in form, their bases being a little below and their apexes a little above the lower ends of the cams, for a purpose which will soon be explained. B is a movable elevator operated by a slide or thumbpiece, B (See Fig. 2.) The elevator is inside the cam-cylinder, and the thumb-piece is on the outside, the two being connected by a pin or rivet, b, Fig. 2. Thus the elevator can be raised or lowered by means of the slide. The elevator is formed in an arc of a circle of somewhat greater diameterthan the diameter of the cylinder, and is elastic; hence when elevator and .slide B are riveted together they clasp the cylinder between them, and are held by friction wherever they are placed. The

form of the elevator B is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, but it does not occupy the position there shown relative to the needlecams, as it is, in fact, arr. nged diametrically opposite or nearly so, as shown in Fig. 2. O is the inner cam-cylinder supported centrally of the machine by means of the curved hanger 0 one arm of which is inserted in a socket, (3 formed upon base A, the other arm engaging with and fitting accurately a sleeve or socket, O rising centrally from the bottom of cylinder 0. (J is awasher, and O a set-screw, engaging with the lower end of the inner. arm of hanger 0 C is a nut working on a thread out upon the 'upper portion of the same arm. By means of nut G and the set-screw and washer at the lower end of the arm the height of the camcylinder 0 relative to cam-cylinder A may be adjusted at will. Cylinder G is provided upon its outer surface with a series of needle-cams, c c a, sliding plate 0 for operating the central or switching cam 0 (see Figs. 3 and 4,) alink, al for operating said switch, a movable needle-elevator, c and a sliding thumb-piece, B for operating it. As these last recited parts are the same in their construction as the corresponding devices in the outer cam-cylinder A they need not be more accurately de-.

scribed. When preferred, cylinder 0 may be further provided with two stationary needle-' elevators like those shown at a. 0. Fig. 3. c is a pin or key inserted in sleeve 0 its inner end entering a groove or key-seat in the arm of the bracket, and thus preventing all rotation of the cylinder. D is a T-shaped switching-lever pivoted to the bracket 0 and connected with switches a c by links d 6?. D is the thread-carrier pivoted upon the opposite side of the hanger O and connected with and actuated by lever I) through spur d and the slotted end 61 of the carrier, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. E is the outer needle-ring, and F the inner one. They are both provided with the usual grooves for the reception of the ordinary needles employed in this class of machines. Ring F is firmly bolted to ring E, as at E and is so much smaller as to leave an annular space between the two for the reception of the web. In practice I introduce a suitable block or blocks (not shown in the drawing) between the rings at that point where the bolts pass, to hold said rings in proper relation to each other. Ring E has a groove. extending around its periphery, in which is placed a hoop, e, to hold the needles in place, and ring F has a similar groove cut in its inner face, in which is placed an elastic guard, F attached at one end to a handle, F, by which it may be easily put in place and taken out as required. Ring E extends below the lower face of the bed A,

and has an external screw-threadcut upon it, as shown in Fig. 2. G is a cogged rim, also provided with an internal screw-thread. Rim G is screwed upon the end of ring E, being held in any desired position by an elastic detent, G. This detent is secured to needle-rin g E, and its free end is bent at a right angle,

and, passing through a slot in the ring, enters any one of a series of notches cut in the cogged rim G. When preferred, a second pivoted clasp, g, which is slightly elastic, may be employed to still further retain detent G in contact with the notches in rim G, as in dotted lines, Fig. 2. g are clamping-blocks, two or more, bolted or riveted to base or bed-plate A, thus securing rim G and the needle-rings in place. Under this arrangement of parts, whenever cogged rim G is rotated by pinion H and crank H the needle-rings are also rotated I I (see Figs. 1 and 2) are adjustable stops. They are made elastic, so that they can be passed down through the annular space between the needle-ring, when the shouldered lower ends will snap under the edge of the inner ring, and, as the upper overhanging ends clasp the upper edge of the outer ring, they will be securely locked in position, but can be removed or adjusted without difficulty. I is a vibrating plate, pivoted to and fitting closely outside of cam-cylinder A The upper edge of plate I is bent inward at a right angle to the vertical portion, thus forming a segmental lip, 43, which overhangs the edge of cam-cylinder A. See Fi s. 1 and 2. The intnrnin V hook at the lower end of link d passes through plate I and the switch-plate a Thus it will be seen that the switches a c are connected to and move simultaneously with switchingplate I 41 11 are shoulders or lugs rigidly attached to plate I -one at the upper side of the front end, and one on the under side, near the rear pivoted end.

When the needles are first placed in the machine they fall by their own weight so as to rest upon the flanges at the bottom of the camcylinders. In order to raise them up within reach I thrust down one of the movable elevators, as in dotted lines, Figs. 3 and 4, so that by turning the rings around the needle will be forced up so that the work can be applied to such number of them as may be desired. If desired, the elevator may now be raised so as to allow the needles which are not in service to pass without being elevated. It

will of course be understood from the foregoing description that an equal number of needles is to be employed in each ring for the purpose of knitting a tubular web. If, now, the lever D be moved so as to raise switch a as in Fig. 3, the thread-carrier will deliver the yarn to the needles in the outer ring, and as they (the needles) pass the cams they will be caused to pursue the path indicated by dotted 1ines,-Fig. 3, thus making a series of stitches, as will be readily understood by all who are familiar with this class of machines. When the knitting is done on the outside row of needles, as above described, the needle rings should be moved against the sun. During this operation the inner row of needles has followed the path indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4.. After the last needle in the outside ring has passed the cam the switch a is closed and switch 0 opened bymeans of leverD,which movement also moves the thread-carrier D over so as to deliver the yarn to the inner row of needles, when, by reversing the direction of revolution of the crank, the inner part of the web can be knit. In order to make the switching and shifting of the thread-carrier automatic I insert the stops I I in such position that the projecting spur i on stop I shall, when the rings are revolved against the sun, engage with-the upper face of vibrating plate I thus depressing said plate, and operating the switches and thread-carrier through links 01 d as will be seen by an inspection of the drawing. During the reverse movement of the rings the spur 6 runs under the plate I and, liftingit, reverses the position of the switches and thread-carrier.

The plate I and stops I I perform a double function, thus: After either of the stops have shifted the plate into the desired position they come into contact with one or the other of lugs 1' 2' thus checking the further revolution of the rings.

It is apparent that the lugs i may be dispensed with, as the switching will be accomplished independently of them; but they are very convenient, as the machine requires less attention on the part of the operator to stop it at the proper point.

When the stops are not employed a single Y web may be knit upon either of the rings in order to knit the heels of stockings and for other purposes.

Under some circumstances the elevator a a may be omitted, as the elasticity of the stitch will lift the needles high enough to in sure their engaging with the cam on the return movement.

By removing the inner needle-ring and camcylinder the machine may be made to knit a continuous flat web, and thus the range of work to be done on the machine largely increased.

The various operations of widening and narrowing, as well as of knitting fringe, are performed in the manner customary in this class of machine, and need not therefore be particularly described.

The length of the stitch may be regulated at will by means of the screw-threaded rim Gr.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a knitting-machine, of two rows of needles, mounted in concentric circles or arcs of circles, the two circles being connected in such manner that one is supported and operated directly from and by the other, substantially as described.

2. In combination with two concentric circles of needles, two series of needle-cams, arranged at different distances from the upper edges of the needle-rings, for the purpose of equalizing the length of the stitches, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the inclined cams on a or 0 0 the switches a or 0 arranged to operate substantially as set forth, whereby the needles which are not knitting are caused to pass over the upper surface of the switch, as set forth.

4. The elastic stops I I constructed substantially as described, and adapted to be locked upon the needle-rings, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the cam-switches, the vibrating plate P, the stops I I and connecting devices, for operating the switches automatically, as set forth.

6. In combination with the two concentric circles or arcs of needles, the vibrating threadcarrier D, switch-lever D, and shifting devices, substantially such as described, whereby the single thread is automatically shifted from one set of needles to the other at each end of the throw of the cylinder or of the web, substantially as described.

HENRY PEASE.

Witnesses S. M. OLDEN, H. SEYMOUR. 

